October 27, 2010 11:06AM # Nine Key Ballot Initiatives to Watch By [Daniel J. Mitchell](https://www.cato.org/people/daniel-mitchell) --- SHARE While everyone is focused on the battle to see which party will control the House and/​or Senate, there are several issues that voters will directly decide that deserve close attention. Here are nine initiatives that I’ll be watching next Tuesday. 1\. Imposing an [income tax in the state of Washington ](http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Washington_Income_Tax,_Initiative_1098_(2010))- This is the one I’ll be following very closely. I have a hard time thinking that voters would be dumb enough to impose an income tax, but the Pacific Northwest is a bit crazy on these issues. Oregon voters, for instance, [approved higher tax rates earlier this year](http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/crazy-oregon-voters-choose-higher-tax-rates/). 2\. Stopping [eminent domain abuse in Nevada ](http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Nevada_Eminent_Domain_Amendment,_Question_4_(2010))- This initiative is very simple. It stops the state from seizing private property if the intent is to transfer it to a private party (thus shutting the door that was opened by the Supreme Court’s [reprehensible *Kelo* decision](http://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/poetic-justice-for-susette-kelo/)). 3\. Marijuana [legalization in California ](http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_19,_the_Marijuana_Legalization_Initiative_(2010))- Proponents of a more sensible approach to victimless crimes will closely watch this initiative to see whether Golden State voters will say yes to pot legalization, subject to local regulation. ([David Boaz ](https://www.cato.org/marijuana-and-freedom/)and [Juan Carlos Hidalgo ](https://www.cato.org/santos-proposition-19-could-change-colombias-drug-policy/)already have commented on the implications of this vote) 4\. Strengthen [rights of gun owners in Kansas ](http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Kansas_Right_to_Bear_Arms_Question,_2010)- If approved, this initiative would remove any ambiguity about whether individuals have the right to keep and bear arms. 5\. Protecting [health care freedom in Arizona ](http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Arizona_Health_Insurance_Reform_Amendment,_Proposition_106_(2010))- For all intents and purposes, this is a referendum on Obamacare. I’m hoping that it will pass overwhelmingly, thus giving a boost to the repeal campaign. There’s apparently a [similar initiative in Oklahoma](http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Oklahoma_Health_Care_Freedom_Amendment,_State_Question_756_(2010)), but it hasn’t gotten as much attention. 6\. Reducing [benefits for bureaucrats in San Francisco ](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304510704575562350166984886.html)- If one of the craziest, left-wing cities in America decides to require bureaucrats to make meaningful contributions to support their bloated pension and health benefits, that’s a sign that the gravy train may be in jeopardy for bureaucrats all across the nation. 7\. Making it [easier to increase government spending in California ](http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_25,_Majority_Vote_for_Legislature_to_Pass_the_Budget_(2010))- The big spenders want to get rid of the two-thirds requirement in the state legislature to approve a budget. This would pave the way for even bigger government in a state that already is close to bankruptcy. 8\. Reducing [the sales tax in Massachusetts ](http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Massachusetts_Sales_Tax_Relief_Act,_Question_3_(2010))- The entire political establishment is fighting this proposal to roll back the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 3 percent, and pro-spending lobbies are pouring big money into a campaign against the initiative, so you know it must be a good idea. 9\. Controlling [benefits for bureaucrats in Louisiana ](http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Louisiana_Public_Retirement_Systems,_Amendment_6_(2010))- The initiative would require a two-thirds vote to approve any expansion of taxpayer-financed benefits for government employees. ##### Related Tags [Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics) [![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).